How to tell if Ultra Acan is Open and happy?

[Boochika]

I received a really nice "Ultra" Acan and since I'm still a noob it's been hard for me to tell if it's open or not. It looks better than it did when it was shipping, but I can't tell if it's fully open like I've seen others on the site here.

I want to leave it in the same place for a few days before moving it, but right now it's in about 75-90 par area in my sand bed. Flow is very indirect and quite slow, but does get undertow from the powerheads.

I would think flow is an issue over lighting. I will update with better photo when lights come on.

 

[jambon222]

It is not fully opened yet. There should be a ring of tentacles and the rim will get very puffy. Sometimes dropping a bit of food onto it will encourage it to open . Just turn your circulation off and hope its tank mates dont rob it. Anything from mysis, pellets, small chopped fresh seafood etc.

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[Boochika]

It is not fully opened yet. There should be a ring of tentacles and the rim will get very puffy. Sometimes dropping a bit of food onto it will encourage it to open . Just turn your circulation off and hope its tank mates dont rob it. Anything from mysis, pellets, small chopped fresh seafood etc.

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Does this look any better? Ioved it between two rocks to reduce flow. Was going to leave it here for a few days.

Do you suspect flow more than lighting?

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[jambon222]

This stuff takes time.. maybe give it a few weeks and observe it. I have 2 varieties at different areas. 1 is open like a carpet and the other closer to yours. Maybe mine is stretching for light since it is in an LED biocube...
If it is eating well, it will decide what it will look like. It does have some nice color...

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[jambon222]

Here's what my 2 look like. Not a great pic but you see...

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[Boochika]

Here's what my 2 look like. Not a great pic but you see...

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So the inside of the polyps should have little white feelers out? Mine are somewhat engorged and fluffy, but only tentacles appear to be on the most protected areas.

 

[Boochika]

I looked at it tonight with lights off and all the white feelies were out. I'll give it some time.

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[Boochika]

Is it possible this is a micromussa and not an Acan? When I see it at it's fullest, it just doesn't seem like as full as an Acan, but it seems expanded and happy.

 

[Reef Bass]

Acanthastrea lordhowensis has been reclassified as Micromussa lordhowensis. So yes, it is very likely it's a Micromussa.

From the photos you've posted it is not settled in fully yet. I would allow at least a month for that, though it can vary. When it has, the polyps will be a bit more inflated and the skeletal septal ridges a bit less visible. You may also see feeding tentacles extended during the day some. If it's extending feeding tentacles at night, it's not miserable.

You might consider feeding it. I target fed mine with small pellets, brine shrimp, small pieces of mysis shrimp, etc., in a turkey baster about an hour or so after the lights turned off. Small amounts twice a week is plenty. Too often can cause an elevation in nitrates and algae. IMHO, the upside of feeding is increased growth. I have a shot of one of mine that added a lovely ring of baby polyps I'll see if I can find.

For Micromussa generally, I would select a location with par of 100-250 and moderate flow. When moving to significantly higher par areas, go slow and give it time to adjust.

Here's a photo of one of mine.

 

[Reef Bass]

Found it. That whole bottom row of polyps grew at roughly the same time.

 

[Boochika]

Thanks Bass! I have seen it's skeleton and it retract occasionally. Right now it's quite plump just the feeding tentacles are not out. I caught a glimpse of some yesterday and will leave it be fore another couple of weeks until I decide to move it. I've seen a lot of posts of these things not doing well because they are moved too much. It's only be about a week and at night the thing is super expanded with all it's tentacles out. Last night I gave it some brine since that's all I have that is small enough for it and it gobbled it right up.

I'll update in a week with another picture.

What kind of camera are you using for those pictures?

 

[Reef Bass]

Glad it's eating for you. Go slow. Feeding is somewhat controversial. Some say it's unnecessary and only degrades water quality. IME, it increases growth rate but it is very easy to drive nitrates and phosphates up.

Those were shot with my Canon 50D dslr with 100mm macro lens. I shoot tethered to my laptop in RAW mode and postprocess in Lightroom. It enables me to set the white balance for a photo more accurately and gives greater control on many aspects of the shot.

Here's another. "Mesmerizing Halo".

 

[Boochika]

So acan is still not open. But doesn't seem to be losing color or shriveling either. I see some very faint tentacles however but not much change besides that. See pics below. I tried to take some close ups.

Should I just leave it as is for a couple more weeks? I've fed it twice so far.

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